Revelation 13:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:1-18

The domain of antichrist. "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy," etc. £ Fanciful interpretations of this chapter, as well as other portions of this book, are abundant. The last seems to us not less unfounded and absurd than those that have gone before. Most of such interpretations assume that the comparatively few people who lived in Rome... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:2

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. The similarity to the vision of Daniel 7:1-28 . is very evident; the resemblance extending even to the language, which is here very like the LXX . version of Daniel. Cf. especially the form ἄρκος (found in all the best manuscripts) with that of the LXX . of Daniel 7:5 . In the vision of Daniel four beasts are seen rising from the sea. The first was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:3

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed; and one of his heads as though it had been slain unto death; and his death stroke was healed. The writer wishes to express the coexistence of two mutually antagonistic qualities. The head had received a fatal wound, and yet the beast continued to exist and exert his power. There may be a contrast and a comparison intended between the Lamb, as it had been slain, worshipped by his adoring followers, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:4

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast; because be gave his authority (Revised Version) is found in all the best manuscripts. The devil had sought to beguile Christ by offering to him all the kingdoms of the world. His efforts with men are more successful. They worship him on account of the worldly wealth and influence which he bestows. And they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? Insert "and" with Revised... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:5

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. So the horn which sprang from the fourth beast of Daniel 7:8 had given to it "a mouth speaking great things." The power of the beast is, after all, only held by the consent of God, who for his own good purpose permits him to exercise it for a time. The "great things" are the promises of superior power and good, with which the devil seeks to allure men, as he did Adam and Eve at the first. All attempts to decry... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:6

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his Name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven; for blasphemies against God. The balance of authority is in favour of omitting "and" (before "them"), thus making (as in the Revised Version) the last clause in apposition with the preceding: his Name and his tabernacle, those tabernacled in heaven. The punishment for this sin among the Jews was death by stoning (see Le 24:16). God's servants fear his Name ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:7

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. This clause is omitted in A, C, P, and some others. So in Daniel 7:21 , "The same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High." And in Revelation 11:7 , "The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them [the two witnesses], and shall overcome them, and kill them." Overcome; that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:8

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb ; [every one] whose name hath not been written, as in the Revised Version. "Him," αὐτόν , masculine, although referring to the neuter, θηρίον , because the personality of Satan under the figure of the beast is borne in mind. "Whose name," singular, referring to the individuals of whom the πάντες , "all," are composed. This verse states in another form what has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:8

Christ sacrificed in eternity. "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." From this wonderful declaration we conclude— I. THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE TO HAPPEN IN THE UNIVERSE IN THE MOST DISTANT FUTURE ARE TO GOD AS FACTS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED . As a fact in this world's history the crucifixion of Christ was enacted about eighteen centuries ago, and yet here it is declared to have occurred before all time, before any creature existed,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 13:9

If any man have an ear, let him hear. This verse draws attention to the solemn declaration which follows in the succeeding verse (cf. Revelation 2:7 ; Revelation 3:6 ; also Matthew 11:15 , etc.). read more

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